A tanker conveying petroleum products exploded on Saturday near Otedola Estate on the outbound service lane of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A video on social media showed thick, dark flames leaping into the air, clouding the evening sky as vehicles continued to move on other lanes of the Expressway.
The Otedola section of the Expressway has been noted for similar accidents.
In October, a tanker loaded with petrol exploded on Otedola Bridge.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, no injuries were recorded in the incident but the extent of property damaged was still being determined.
“The Agency has responded . . . and upon arrival of the Agency’s officials at the incident scene, it was observed that a tanker conveying an unknown amount of diesel fell spilling its content which resulted to an explosion that affected a truck conveying goods,” a statement signed by LASEMA chief, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said.
The statement added that rescue and recovery operations were ongoing.
Two persons have been killed while one person is in a critical condition following an accident that occurred on the Otedola bridge off the Berger-end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The accident which occurred on Saturday involved a truck carrying granite and an SUV.
At least two persons are feared killed in a multiple-car crash on the Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the south-west region of the country.
The accident, which occurred on Wednesday morning, is said to involve a containerised truck and several cars.
A photo showing the scene of the accident which occurred on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos State on October 23, 2019.
Channels Television gathered that the incident involved a high-capacity bus on the bridge inwards Berger while motorists on the other side of the road slowed down to observe what has happened.
This accident involves a containerized truck, a pickup and a high capacity bus as well as several cars. Casualties still trapped in the pickup. The road is totally blocked for now. Emergency agencies are on ground.@TrafficChiefNG@Gidi_Traffic@trafficbutter@lagostelevision
Travellers and motorists were relieved on Tuesday after emergency workers cleared a truck that fell on the Otedola Bridge en route to Berger in Lagos State.
A traveller who pleaded anonymity told Channels Television that the truck fell while trying to avoid a tanker carrying diesel that fell at Mobil inward Otedola on Monday evening.
“I have been here for over two hours. It was multiple accidents that happened there (pointing to Otedola Bridge) but they have cleared it now,” he said.
The road was cordoned off, although two lanes are moving beside the tanker.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) took to its Twitter handle to make the announcement earlier.
It said, “Fallen Tanker on Otedola Bridge, emergency responders deployed to the scene. Motorists are advised to be patient. Details soon.
“The Fallen Tanker is loaded with diesel, all emergency responders @ the scene of the incident. Road cordoned off for immediate recovery. Motorists are implored to be patient on this one.
“Location of Fallen Tanker is @ Mobil INW Otedola en route Berger, it is covering about 10% of the road. Emergency Responders on the ground for recovery/ Traffic building up from Conoil U-turn. Two Lanes moving beside fallen tanker.”
LASTMA also advised travellers and motorists to ply an alternative route through CMD road inward Otedola.
The Lagos State Government has announced a restriction of the movement of fuel tankers to designated trailer route in the state.
This is following the tragic tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge inward Ojodu Berger along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday, June 28, which claimed lives and property.
The state government also said it was now mandatory for all articulated trucks coming into Lagos to obtain the Ministry of Transportation’s Road Worthiness Certificate at any of the designated centres within the next 30 days.
The State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Ladi Lawanson made this announcement in Alausa after meeting with all the relevant stakeholders including Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), National Association of Transport Operators (NATO), Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, among others.
He also noted that preliminary investigations into the incident revealed a combination of a vehicular defect and human errors.
“As an immediate response to the latest incident, the Lagos State Government hereby announces the following measures: Fuel tankers are hereby directed to ply the designated trailer route, that is, Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway via Ogudu to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“All tankers and containers coming into Lagos State from henceforth are directed to obtain the Ministry of Transportation Certificate of Road Worthiness at any of our centres within the next 30 days, while new centres along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be established to quickly to cope with the expected demand for this service,” Lawanson said.
He listed the 10 centres currently available to process the applications to include Berger, Ojodu; Odogunyan, Ikorodu; Agric/Ishawo Road, Ikorodu; Works yard, PWD, Shogunle; NCI, Gbagada; VIS Yard, Oko-Afo, Badagry; VIS Yard, Ayobo-Ipaja; Test Centre, Badagry; VIS Yard, Epe; and VIS Yard, Oko-Oba Abattoir.
He added that the government, in partnership with all the stakeholders, would set up joint-enforcement of the operating laws, while barriers would be installed on bridges in Lagos to prevent articulated trucks including Ojuelegba, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ekodeso, Abule-Egba, Lekki-Ajah, among others.
At least nine people were killed on Thursday after a tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge along the Berger axis of Lagos.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed to Channels Television that rescue officials have been able to retrieve nine bodies from the scene of the fire.
Eyewitnesses, however, said the death toll might be higher as many people were trapped in their cars with rescue officials still working at the scene.
A fresh accident has occurred Friday, along the Otedola Bridge axis of Berger in Lagos, barely 24 hours after a tanker exploded around the same spot.
According to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), two vehicles, a commercial bus and a Toyota Hiace colluded inward Lagos, opposite the scene of Thursday’s accident.
The RRS said the incident was a result of reckless driving on the part of the commercial bus driver who was on high speed against the traffic.
“Reckless Danfo driver speeding on 1 way had a head-on collision with Toyota Hiace bus entering Lagos opposite scene of yesterday’s tanker fire. The buses have been moved from obstruction while wounded passengers hospitalised”.
Otedola Bridge Fire:
Reckless Danfo driver speeding on 1 way had an head -on collision with Toyota Hiace bus entering Lagos opposite scene of yesterday’s tanker fire. The buses have been moved from obstruction while wounded passengers hospitalised. @Gidi_Traffic@followlasgpic.twitter.com/WZvTf0EiWO
The tanker was heading out of Lagos towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the crash occurred, engulfing at least 50 vehicles, leaving nine persons dead and four others injured.
LASEMA’s General Manager, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed to the figures to Channels Television.
Eyewitnesses, however, said the death toll could be higher as many people were trapped in their cars at the time of this report.
As the fire spread, many drivers had to abandon their vehicles and flee as firefighters tried to battle the raging blaze.
Traffic was stopped on both sides of the road as emergency officials battled to put out the fire and attend to those affected.
Although the fire has been put out by the officials, the road remains closed with rescue officials still working on the scene.
One person died this morning following a fatal accident involving a Sports Utility Van and another vehicle on the Otedola Bridge towards Berger, Lagos State.
The accident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday resulted in heavy vehicular traffic worsened by the fuel queues.
It was not clear how many passengers were involved in the crash but traffic authorities have cleared the wreckage.
Sector Commander Zone 2, FRSC Lagos State, Nseobong Akpabio, explained how the accident occurred.
“A truck carrying container, descending from the bridge from the Mobil (filling station) towards Otedola Bridge had a brake failure and crashed into vehicles, one of which was the pickup that was closely in front of the truck.
“From the reports from the hospital – the Lagos State Emergency Centre in Ojota, one person was confirmed dead and there were injuries.”
He added that the FRSC officials have commenced further investigation into the causes of the accident as they would not base their conclusion only on the driver’s claim that it was a brake failure.
He noted, however, that the Otedola Bridge area has been identified to be accident-prone and warned motorist using the road to always allow ample distance between them and other vehicles.
The outward portion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was completely blocked Thursday evening after a multiple accident of two trucks smashed into vehicles riding beside them.
The outward Lagos – Ibadan carriageway is blocked and traffic diverted to the inward Ibadan – Lagos carriageway
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) confirmed the crash saying “a crash involving multiple vehicles just occurred on Otedola Bridge involving a tanker and some other vehicles.”
The vehicles involved are FKJ 167 AX, Skoda Saloon car, AH 723 SMK, Landrover Jeep, KSF 806 XC, Volvo Truck, XB 166 NGL, a Petrol Tanker.
FRSC on its Facebook page posted that “its officials were at the scene controlling traffic and on rescue services.”
“Casualties not ascertained yet. Let those on that particular road now be patient and cautious please.”
A multiple accident occurred at the Otedola bridge axis of Lagos-Ibadan express way on Wednesday involving a petrol tanker.
One person died this morning following a fatal accident involving a Sports Utility Van and another vehicle on the Otedola Bridge towards Berger, Lagos State.
